Adjustable top merchandise counter



April 30, 1957 A. J. PALMER ADJUSTABLE TOP MERCHANDISE COUNTER Filed Feb. 26, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 5Q 53 V a 21 7 0 61 5 2 xx -1- INVENTOR.

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Albert J. Palmer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to W. Palmer, doing business as toreModernizing Service Application February as, 1954, Serial No. 412,801 4 Claims. cl. era-sue This invention relates to a merchandise counter as frequently used in retail stores and more particularly to such a counter having a top adjustable in position relative to the body of the counter.

In the past, a merchant, in fitting up a store, had to determine how many recessed-top counters, and flat-top counters he would require for his particular merchandising. After making the decision, the counters were ordered from the manufacturer, a number of the recessed kind and ,a number of the flat-top kind. Should the merchandising program be changed thereafter, the merchant would find that his original decision had bound him against changes in his merchandise display counters without considerable expense of replacing certain units. There is always an inflexibility in such an arrangement not permitting a change during a sale during which merchandise might be displayed in a different manner.

There has also been the problem of changing a particular display counter from one in which bins are attached to the top of it to a simple flat-top counter having a smooth exposed surface. Once bins are attached to the counter top, the top is marred and thereafter only an expensive refinishing procedure could recondition the top of the counter.

The present invention provides a merchandise display counter which obviates the difficulties mentioned above. The top may be adjusted in position to either form a flat-top counter or one which is recessed. In addition, the top may be inverted or turned over to expose one surface or the other, thus permitting one surface to be used for fiat-top work and the other to receive bins which might be fastened to the top.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a merchandise counter having a top adjustable in position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a counter of the nature described having a mechanism permitting the top of the counter to be turned, displaying and ex posing either surface of the top.

Other features, advantages and objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the counter of this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary broken sectional view taken along a horizontal plane through the counter substantially along line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view through the connection of the operating device with one of the cam members;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through the counter on a vertical plane substantially along line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 showing the parts in another position; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view along a vertical plane taken substantially along line 6-6 in Figure 5.

States Patent 6 ice While this invention is susceptible of embodiments in many different forms, there is shown in the drawing and will herein be described in detail one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles 0f the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointd out in the appended claims. v I i The merchandise case of this invention has what may be termed a body portion similar in most respects to merchandise cases in general .use. A base it) is provided for supporting the merchandise case on the floor of the store where it is intended for use. The side walls, generally designated 11, may include end walls 12, a front wall 13, and a rear wall 14, with the rear wall provided with an opening 15 permitting access to the interior of the case. Sliding. doors l6 and 17 may be provided to close the rear wall or alternately expose shelves 1% and 19 within the case. Ordinarily the merchandise for sale will be placed .on top of the counter and additional supplies will be placed on the shelves l8 and 19. The upper edges 26 of the side walls lie in a plane and the case, as constructed, is upwardly open, the open space being defined by the joining side walls of the case. A top 21 is mounted on the case and by the mechanism to be described is adjusted in position between a recessed or lowered position as. illustrated in Figure l to a flat-top position such as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.

The particular mechanism by which the top is raised and lowered is best illustrated in Figures 2 through 6. It is supported upon a frame 22 extending around the interior of the side walls of the case and fastened to the side walls so as to. extend inwardly therefrom a short distance below the upper edges 2t! of the side walls. This frame may consist of a narrow ledge of wood and may most appropriately be. secured to the side walls by inserting the outer edgeportion 23 of the wood members in an appropriate groove 24 formed in the side wall material.

The mechanism is supported on. the frame 22 by a pair of spaced shafts 25. having their end portions resting upon opposite, portions of the frame 22. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the shafts. extend lengthwise of the case between theend panels 12 of the counter. The shaft 25 on the rear side of the counter is held in position by a pair of small wood blocks 26 and 27 while the front shaft 25 is held in position by smaller blocks 28 and 29. These blocks are not tightly against the shaft 25 but are spaced slightly from the shaft to permit some movement of the shaft across the width of the counter as the mechanism is operated.

The present invention utilizes three pairs of cams secured to the shafts 25 to effect the raising and lowering. One pair of earns 30 and 31 are secured to the shafts 25 adjacent one end of the counter. A similar pair of cams 40 and 41 are secured to.the shafts adjacent the opposite end of the counter. A third pair of cooperating cams 50 and 51 are secured to the shafts intermediate their ends and fairly close to the center of the counter. All three pairs of cams are secured to the shafts so that any turning of the shafts will cause the same movement of all the cams.

The paritcular shape of the cams is best seen in Figures 4 and 5. All of the cams are similar so that the description of the pair of cams 5t) and 51 will indicate the shape of all three pairs. Each cam has an outer portion 52 spaced a considerable distance from the shaft 25 to which it is attached. The outer surface 52 is joined by an arcuate portion 53 to a relatively straight portion 54 extending toward the shaft 25 and positioned much closer to the shaft than the outer portion 52. An arm 55 of the cam extends downwardly from the shaft 25 to receive a link 56 pivotally secured thereto by a rivet 57. This link 56 is attached to the opposite cam by a bolt 58. A similar link 9 of the same length is attached to the cam 50 by a rivet 60 and to a bolt 61 on the cam 51. These two links are of the same length and are attached to the cams at distances from the shafts 25 which are equal so that these crossed links cause the cams to move in unison with movement of either one.

Each of the cams is provided with a cut out portion 32 to permit the cam to come to rest substantially on the frame 22 as illustrated in Figure 4. This structure permits the placement of the operating mechanism for raising the top close to the upper edge 20 of the side walls and yet does not interfere with the lowering of the cams to a low level increasing the depth of the top from the upper edges of the side walls when recessed.

Each set of cams is provided with crossed links which cause the cams to move in unison. Thus, the earns 30 and 31 have a pair of crossed links 36 and 39 secured to them in the same manner as described for the links 56 and 59. The cams 40 and 41 also have a pair of crossed links 446 and 49 secured to them in the same manner. All of the links are of the same length and secured to the cams in identical manners so that there is no binding by reason of the provision of more than one set of cams on the shafts 25.

it should be understood that all three pairs of cams raise and lower in unison since all of the cams are attached to the shafts 25. Upon raising of the cams from the position shown in Figure 4 to the position shown in Figure 5, the top 21 may be elevated relative to the side walls of the counter. The particular elevating apparatus comprises a rod 62 having a right-hand thread 63 at its forward end and a left-hand thread 64 at the opposite end adjacent a square shank 65. A crank 66 may be inserted through an opening 67 in the rear side wall and inserted over the square end of the rod so that the rod may be turned upon its axis. The threaded portions of the rod are received in a threaded nut 68 on cam 50 and a similar nut 69 on cam 51. This nut is more particularly shown in Figure 3 and is held in position by the bolt 58 which holds the end of link 56 to the cam 50. It will thus be understood that upon turning of the rod 62 the cams may be elevated or lowered.

It will be noted that the turning of the cams presents a surface on the upper side of the cam at a varying distance from the shafts 25. The support for the counter top is formed by three inverted channel members 70, one each extending across the counter and resting upon the upper surface of a pair of cams. These channels are thus supported in position running transverse to the length of the counter or the extent of the shafts 25. The cams are all alike so that the channels have upper surfaces which lie in a common plane. The mounting of the cams is such that this common plane is horizontal or substantially so without apparent deviation.

The top 21 is simply a single wood member finished on both its upper and lower surfaces. The top is not secured to the channel members but is merely floatingly resting upon them so that it can be removed by the simple expedient of lifting it from the channels.

In instances where a merchant wishes to convert his counter from that of the flush top variety to that of a recessed type, he merely needs to insert the handle on the control rod 62 to raise or lower the cams, thus affecting the position of the top relative to the side walls of the counter. In some instances, it may be desirable to place merchandise bins on the counter and secure the bins in place with screws or other fasteners. Since the top of the counter may be inverted at will, one side of the top may be exposed upwardly when such bins are to be used so that all screw holes and marring of the top will occur on one side. At a later time, the top may be reversed to expose the other side, which may be maintained in a nicely polished and unmarred condition.

While the top merely floats on its supporting channels it is quite sturdy and can support considerable weight. The cams which support the channels are locked in position by the operating mechanism of the rod 62. The shafts 25 supporting the cams are held against substan tial lateral movement in the counter so that the threaded ends of the rod 62 engaging the nuts on the middle set of cams effectively locks all of the cams in position. It is not necessary therefore that the rod have any means of support outside of the threaded nuts which it engages.

As previously mentioned, the notched portion 32 of the cams can come to rest substantially upon the frame 22 to provide firm support for the top of the counter when in its lowermost position. At this same time the straight surface 54 of the cams will rest in planar contact with the underside of the channels in effect spreading the bearing face of the counter top upon the cams. When the cams are in their uppermost position the straight surface 52 also has planar contact with the channel members effecting a similar support of the top.

I claim:

1. A merchandise counter, comprising: a base; upwardly extending joined side walls enclosing space for merchandise and terminating in upper edges at substantially normal counter height; an inwardly extending frame secured to and below the upper edge of the side walls; a counter top raising and lowering apparatus mounted on said frame including a pair of spaced shafts extending between opposite side walls and resting on the frame, cooperating pairs of cams secured to the shafts, each cam having an upper surface with portions at different distances from the shaft on which it is mounted,

the maximum distance being comparable to the distance from the shaft to the plane of the upper edges of said side walls, one of each pair of cams on one shaft and the other on the opposite shaft; each pair of cams havengageable with each of one pair of cams to provide cooperating movement of all cams; an inverted channel member resting upon the upper surfaces of each pair of cams and extending across the counter substantially normal to the length of said shafts, said channel members having upper surfaces lying in a plane; and a counter top fioatingly supported on said channel members.

2. A merchandise counter, comprising: a base; joined, upwardly-open side walls supported by the base; a pair of spaced shafts extending between opposite side walls :below the upper edges thereof; cooperating pairs of cams mounted on the shafts and being rotatable with said shafts; means for rotating said cams, said means including an operating rod directly engageable with each of one pair of cams, whereby operation of the rod simultaneously moves all cams; and a top for the counter resting solely upon the cams without attachment thereto permitting either side of the top to be selectively exposed, said top having a size to be lowered between the side walls in recessed position.

3. A merchandise counter, comprising: a base; joined,

A upwardly-open side walls supported by the base; a pair of spaced shafts extending between opposite side walls below the upper edges thereof; cooperating pairs of cams mounted on the shafts and an inverted channel resting upon each pair of cams means for cooperatively oppositely rotating said cams with said shafts to raise and lower said channels, said means including an operating rod directly engageable with each of one pair of said cams; a first straight edge portion on the outcr end of each cam adapted to engage the underside of the channel when the cams are in their upper position and a second straight edge portion on each camadaptcd to ent gage the underside of the channel when the cams are in their lowermost position, said straight edge portions providing planar contact between the cams and channels; and a top for the counter resting solely upon the channels without attachment thereto permitting either side of the top to be selectively exposed, said top having a size to be lowered between the side walls in recessed position.

4. A merchandise counter, comprising: a base; joined, upwardly-open side walls terminating in upper edges supported by the base; an inwardly extending frame secured to and below the upper edges of the side walls and having a flat surface portion; a pair of spaced shafts extending across the counter and supported on said frame; cooperating pairs of cams mounted on the shafts, and having upper surfaces movable in unison to selectably variable distances from the level of the upper edges of the side walls; each pair of cams having a pair of crossed links pivotally connecting the cams for concurrent rotation in opposite direction about the respective shafts; each cam having a notched lower edge portion with a flat surface on one side of the notch adapted to repose upon said flat surface portion of the frame when the cams are in their lowermost position in the counter;

a plurality of inverted channels, each channel resting upon a pair of cams; means for cooperatively oppositely rotating said cams including an operating rod directly engageable with each of one pair of said earns; a first straight edge portion on the outer end of each cam adapted to engage the underside of the channel when the cams are in their upper position and a second straight edge portion on each cam adapted to engage the underside of the channel when the cams are in their lowermost position, said straight edge portions providing planar contact between the cams and channels; and a top for the counter resting solely upon the channels without attachment thereto permitting either side of the top to be selectively exposed, said top having a size to be lowered between the side walls in recessed position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 77,001 Collender Apr. 21, 1868 318,593 Behrens May 26, 1885 501,521 Marsh July 18, 1893 730,451 Friend June 9, 1903 2,258,689 Roselyn Oct. 14, 1941 

